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ANNUAL REPORT
Bringing Ideas to Life
14
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Bringing Ideas to Life
Annual Report
COVER PHOTO:
Model of a Novel Dry Powder Inhaler
Letter from the VP for Research and Innovation and the
Executive Director
1
Regional Innovation Ecosystem
2
The Year at a Glance
4
Inventor of the Year
6
Cancer Imaging and Therapy
8
Anticoagulants at Work
10
Novel Dry Powder Inhalers
12
VCU Squared
14
VCU Innovation Gateway Team
16
VCU Commercialization Advisory Panel
17
Mission
Our mission is to facilitate commercialization
of university inventions; support university
research through collaborative agreements;
foster a culture of innovation and
entrepreneurship at the university; and
promote regional economic development
and new venture creation.
LinkedIN: VCU Innovation Gateway
Facebook: VCU Innovation Gateway
Twitter: @VCUInnovation
Design: BN Design & Advertising
Photography: Karl Steinbrenner
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
This was a pivotal year for us.
We adopted a new brand name and started implementing
our expanded vision to become a true Innovation Gateway
for the university. And we are making it real with results
that speak for themselves: Not only did we have a record
year for issued patents (12) and for licensing revenues
(~$2M), but we also had a record number of licensing deals
(17). The double-digit growth reflected in these numbers
is evidence for our success. Furthermore, we have doubled
the number of companies and investors visiting VCU and
doubled the number of industry collaborations with VCU
faculty.
We are pleased to report that one of VCU’s start-up
companies developing the only clinical drug that directly
targets sickle cell disease was successfully acquired by
big pharma. This drug is a telling example of productive
collaboration between our translational research focused
faculty, small business and NIH’s National Center for
Advancing of Translational Sciences to bring innovation
from bench to bedside.
This past year was remarkable in another aspect. Last
September we launched the VCU Venture Creation
University, also known as VCU Squared. As many of
you know, this is a university-wide strategy to support
entrepreneurship and to harness the talent of our faculty,
staff and students. Since last September, more than
170 VCU faculty and over 800 students attended our
entrepreneurship training events, such as boot camps,
pop-up pitches, start-up seminars and start-up weekends.
We are very proud that in one year we have already spunoff several new faculty and students ventures.
In the following pages, you will find information on this
university-wide strategy to support entrepreneurship and
innovation.
Finally, we are at a pivotal point in the VCU relationship
with the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park. The
Research Park is re-branding and re-positioning itself as
an important agent of change for the regional innovation
ecosystem. In this annual report, you will learn about
VCU president Michael Rao’s vision for collaboration with
the Research Park to promote innovation and economic
development in RVA.
Thanks to the leadership of Dr. Rao, the talent of our
multidisciplinary research faculty, and the creativity of
our students, the VCU Innovation Gateway is bringing
translation research and innovation to life.
We invite you to explore some of the highlights of 2014 in
this report.
With sincere gratitude,
Francis L. Macrina, Ph.D.
Edward Myers Professor of Dentistry and
Vice President for Research and Innovation
Ivelina Metcheva, Ph.D., MBA
Executive Director, VCU Innovation Gateway
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Shared Vision of a
Regional Innovation Ecosystem
On a brisk January afternoon in downtown Richmond fifty local business trailblazers,
educators and public leaders piled onto a bus at the Virginia Biotechnology Research
Park for a tour of the region’s budding innovation ecosystem.
Along for the ride, organized by the Greater Richmond Chamber, VCU Innovation
Gateway and the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, were VCU president Michael
Rao, Ph.D., and Carrie Roth, president and CEO of the Research Park.
“If we could bring all of our resources together, the region could be explosive,” Dr.
Rao called the group to action. “No one of us can do it all alone. We need to work
together to create a pipeline for the university research engine.”
The tour highlighted the Research Park’s commercial life sciences hub as well as
VCU’s innovation residences, multiple accelerators and co-working spaces in RVA.
Since the university’s renewed partnership with the Research Park in 2013, the two
entities have worked in tandem to leverage innovations and discoveries to elevate
the entire Richmond region.
Two major activities are on the agenda: establishment of a regional innovation
council and elevating VCU Venture Creation University - VCU Squared. The innovation
council is a focal point of the Research Park’s new mission to grow the regional
ecosystem through its non-profit Corporation Board. VCU Squared is a universitywide strategy for innovation and entrepreneurship. VCU has committed $1.2 million
for these efforts and is now encouraging community support and promotion for
the projects.
“Taking the Research Park and the regional innovation ecosystem to the
next level will require increased shared activity and revolutionary action for
transformational change,” said Roth. “VCU is an innovation, entrepreneurial and
economic development driver for the region, and it is vital to leverage this asset
in a meaningful way to strengthen the fabric of our collaborative community. The
opportunity is ours.”
“It’s very clear that innovation is on the minds of many people in the Richmond
region,” said Dr. Rao. “The conversations I’ve had in many places across the
innovation and entrepreneurial communities affirm the actions we are taking to
establish a regional innovation system. And as VCU moves solidly into the top 50
public research universities nationally, the university’s alignment with the Research
Park is key.”
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Carrie Roth and Michael Rao, Ph.D.
3
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FISCAL YEAR AT A GLANCE
Licensing Revenues
$1,743,344
Invention Disclosures
98
Licenses/Options
17
Other Research Support Agreements
26
Start-ups
3
Patents Filed
138
Patents Issued
12
Copyrights
6
Material Transfer Agreements
338
Non-Disclosure Agreements
103
School of Medicine
College of Humanitites
and Sciences
School of Engineering
School of Art
School of Dentistry
School of Pharmacy
School of Allied Health
Professions
School of Nursing
School of Social Work
Office of Research
66
7
33
3
6
12
3
1
1
1
DEPARTMENTS WITH TEN OR
MORE INVENTION DISCLOSURES
Internal Medicine
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical and Life Sciences Engineering
14
11
10
DEPARTMENTS WITH FIVE
TO NINE INVENTION DISCLOSURES
Medicinal Chemistry
Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Emergency Medicine
Biochemistry
DISTRIBUTION OF INVENTION DISCLOSURES
9
8
6
5
VCU PATENTS ISSUED
Issue Date Patent No.
VCU Inventors
Title
6/24/2014
8,762,308
Kayvan Najarian, Ph.D.
Soo-Yeon Ji, Ph.D. Kevin Ward, M.D.
Roya Hakimzadeh, Ph.D.
Combining Predictive Capabilities of
Transcranial Doppler (TCD) with
Electrocardiogram (ECG) to Predict
Hemorrhagic Shock
6/17/2014
8,753,806
Martin Mangino, Ph.D.
Organ Protection Solution and
Method of Use
3/11/2014
8,669,105
John Tew, Ph.D.
Mohey Eldin El Shikh, MD, Ph.D.
Methods for Assaying Response to Vaccines
1/22/2014
0102782.7
Ruey-min Lee, Ph.D.
Peck-Sun Lin, Ph.D.
Induction of Tumor Hypoxia
for Cancer Therapy
12/24/2013
8,613,909
Umesh Desai, Ph.D.
Cinnamic Acid-based Oligomers
Brian Henry, MD, Ph.D.
and Uses Thereof
Aiye Liang, Ph.D.
Jay Thakkar
John Mangrum, Ph.D.
Ivo Torres Filho, M.D.
Bruce Spiess, M.D.
12/17/2013
8,609,360
Don Farthing, Ph.D.
Lei Xi, M.D.
H. Thomas Karnes, Ph.D.
Domenic Sica, M.D.
Todd Gehr, M.D.
Martin Unverdorben, Ph.D.
Lynne Gehr, M.D.
Method for Diagnosing Acute
Cardiac Ischemia
12/17/2013
8,609,360
Don Farthing, Ph.D.
Lei Xi, M.D.
H. Thomas Karnes, Ph.D.
Domenic Sica, M.D.
Todd Gehr, M.D.
Martin Unverdorben, Ph.D.
Lynne Gehr, M.D.
Method for Diagnosing Acute
Cardiac Ischemia
12/10/2013
8,602,034
Vishnu Sundaresan, Ph.D.
Jayasimha Atulasimha, Ph.D.
On the Use of Magnetoelectric Cantilevers
in Minimally Invasive Surgery/
Magnetoelectric Dampers
11/19/2013
8,586,345
Gary Bowlin, Ph.D.
David Simpson, Ph.D.
Gary Wnek, Ph.D.
Electroprocessed Collagen and
Tissue Engineering
10/18/2013
5390189
Richard Marconi, Ph.D.
Christopher Earnhart, Ph.D.
Polyvalent Chimeric OspC Vaccinogen
and Diagnostic Antigen
9/3/2013
8,538,117
Kayvan Najarian, Ph.D.
Simina Vasilache, Ph. D.
Kevin Ward, M.D.
Accurate Pelvic Fracture Detection
for X-Ray and CT Images
7/30/2013
8,497,408
Marcus Carr, M.D., Ph.D.
Gary Wnek, Ph.D.
Kelman Cohen, Ph.D.
Gary Bowlin, Ph.D.
Kevin Ward, M.D.
Robert Barbee, Ph.D.
Rao Ivatury, M.D.
Treatment for High Pressure Bleeding
7/23/2013
8,491,872
Umesh Desai, Ph.D.
Brian Henry, MD, Ph.D.
Aiye Liang, Ph.D.
Jay Thakkar
John Mangrum, Ph.D.
Ivo Torres Filho, M.D.
Bruce Spiess, M.D.
Cinnamic Acid-Based Oligomers
and Uses Thereof
7/9/2013
8,479,728
Worth Longest, Ph.D.
Jinxiang Xi, Ph.D.
Michael Hindle, Ph.D.
Enhanced Delivery of Nanoparticle and
Micrometer-Sized Pharmaceutical Aerosols
to the Lung through Controlled
Hygroscopic Growth
5
Martin Safo, Ph.D. and Richmond Danso-Danquah, Ph.D.
6
The Billy R. Martin Innovation Award
One Step Closer: A VCU Discovered Therapeutic Combats Sickle Cell Disease
Over 100,000 people in the United States alone suffer
from sickle cell disease (SCD) and face an average life
expectancy of just forty years. For patients in Africa
and Asia afflicted with this hereditary blood disorder,
the number skyrockets into the millions.
Safer than hydroxyurea, the only drug currently used
to alleviate the symptoms of SCD, Aes-103 works
by directly blocking red blood cell sickling, thereby
preventing life-threatening conditions such as
anemia and stroke.
Now entering phase II clinical trials, an anti-sickling
agent discovered at Virginia Commonwealth
University is closer than ever to becoming the world’s
first approved drug to treat SCD.
VCU Innovation Gateway served as the liaison
between the university and AesRx, the start-up
biopharmaceutical company focused on Aes103’s development. Baxter International, a global
healthcare company with expertise in medical
devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology acquired
AesRx last summer.
With the successful completion of its clinical trial
phase, in partnership with the NIH Therapeutics
for Rare and Neglected Diseases program, Aes-103
stands to become a revolutionary new treatment for
this debilitating disease.
A team from the VCU Institute for Structural
Biology and Drug Discovery including Martin Safo,
Ph.D., associate professor of medicinal chemistry;
Richmond Danso-Danquah, Ph.D., assistant professor
of medicinal chemistry; and Donald Abraham, Ph.D.,
emeritus director of the institute, developed the oral
small molecule known as Aes-103.
“VCU Innovation Gateway and I built a close
working relationship. I kept them up to date
on major developments and challenges. As
with any drug development program, there
were unexpected twists and turns. However,
because of our joint teams’ collaborative spirit,
VCU was willing to work with us to meet and
overcome the obstacles we faced. They were a
true partner with us along the way. The result
was a huge success for everyone when Baxter
DONALD ABRAHAM, PH.D., MICHAEL RAO, PH.D.,
RICHMOND DANSO-DANQUAH, PH.D. AND
MARTIN SAFO, PH.D.
acquired AesRx last summer. The program is
in the hands of a partner who has the skill,
resources and commitment to take Aes-103 as
far as its results merit.”
Steve Seiler
CEO, AesRX
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Combining Imaging
and Therapy –
a Novel Approach
in Cancer Care
8
“It was a pleasure working
with Ivelina and her team
at VCU Innovation Gateway
in developing CTS. The
interactions were very positive
and professional, facilitating
the licensing process and
launching the new venture.”
Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D.
Professor and Chairman
Human and Molecular Genetics
Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D.
For his bench to bedside research on cancer cell
specific gene promoters, Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D.,
professor and chairman of Human and Molecular
Genetics, director of VCU Institute for Molecular
Medicine and Thelma Newmeyer Corman Chair
in Cancer Research in the Massey Cancer Center,
has been named the recipient of the 2014 Virginia
Outstanding Scientist Award.
Along with co-inventor Martin G. Pomper, M.D., Ph.D.,
professor and deputy director of Johns Hopkins
University’s In vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging
Center, Dr. Fisher has created a new spin-off company,
Cancer Targeting Systems (CTS). The company is
focused on harnessing non-viral gene delivery
techniques to offer cancer imaging and treatment.
“Cancer cell specific gene promoters offer a platform
that can really move the whole area of gene-based
oncology products forward – for therapy, imaging
and the combination of the two,” said Will West,
Ph.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of CTS.
Fisher and the team have shown imaging of cancer
metastases with superior accuracy to any other
imaging methods currently available. The technique
involves triggering specific protein expression within
the cancer cells to detect disease and subsequently
to prompt tumor death.
“This research could potentially lead to earlier
detection and treatment of metastases originating
from a variety of cancer types,” said Fisher.
Future applications of this discovery could include
the delivery of therapeutic agents directly to tumor
sites and the monitoring of drug delivery in real time.
Anticoagulants that Work:
Reducing Surgical Risks by
Timely Antithrombin Sensing
10
VCU School of Pharmacy Professor Umesh R. Desai, Ph.D.
and an interdisciplinary team of researchers are
battling one of surgery’s biggest risks on two fronts.
Unmitigated thrombin and antithrombin (AT)
fluctuation can cause post-surgical clots to form in
arteries, which may lead to full blockages and death.
Anticoagulants, such as heparin, have not completely
solved patient response variability and bleeding
episodes.
To meet this need, Dr. Desai and his team developed
a new synthetic anticoagulant, sulfated pentagalloyl
glucopyranoside (SPGG), which retards blood clotting
without the risk of variability and bleeding.
Dr. Desai and his collaborators from several VCU
schools have also developed a new way to test
AT levels in patients undergoing surgery. The AT
monitoring system, which uses uniquely designed
metal nanoparticles coupled with a fluorescent
marker, binds to AT present in blood and produces
fluorescence proportional to its level. Through this
process, AT is accurately quantified.
“The usage of AT in surgery will allow people to benefit
from their own natural protein rather than heparin,”
said Dr. Desai. “From here, we can clearly see a road to
generating a test strip, which can be dipped in blood or
plasma and will reveal the patient’s level of AT in less
than five minutes.”
This invention adds a new level of safety to surgery
and the nanoparticle system could be easily modified
for measuring the levels of other proteins in the blood.
Umesh Desai, Ph.D.
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“VCU Innovation Gateway has been
a tremendous resource in helping to
convert my collaborative research efforts
with Dr. Michael Hindle into marketable
intellectual property.”
P. Worth Longest, Ph.D.
Professor
Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Delivering what often amounts to life-saving
treatment in emergency situations, dry powder
inhalers (DPIs) are used to treat respiratory
diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and
emphysema.
These devices work by converting a powder
formulation into an aerosol so that it can be
inhaled. By delivering medication directly to the
lungs, side effects are reduced and the medicine
acts more effectively. Current inhalers, however,
are inefficient – wasting up to 90% of the drug
through deposition in the mouth and throat,
which contributes directly to side effects.
To address the need for high-efficiency DPIs,
Worth Longest, Ph.D. from the School of
Engineering and Michael Hindle, Ph.D. from
the School of Pharmacy have created an
innovative inhaler. The functionality of this
novel respiratory drug delivery system lies in
decreasing the size of the delivered aerosol to
a nanoscale.
“The pharmaceutical industry has struggled
for a long time to get smaller particles out of
aerosol inhalers,” said Dr. Longest. “What we
have developed at VCU is a way to first create
a submicrometer aerosol from a handheld
DPI and then, once the aerosol is in the lungs,
increase its size to provide targeted drug
delivery. This inhaler and drug formulations
open up the lungs as a way to effectively deliver
medication to the body without needles.”
Exciting advantages of this new inhaler include
improved targeting of medications to the lungs,
low cost, and a wide variety of design attributes
that can be used to optimize performance.
12
Michael Hindle, Ph.D. and P. Worth Longest, Ph.D.
A Novel Design for Dry Powder
Inhaler Provides Patients with
Improved Drug Delivery
13
VCU Venture Creation University (a.k.a.VCU Squared) is a university-wide
strategy for enhancing the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at
the university. VCU Squared focuses on building pathways that support
entrepreneurial students, faculty, staff, and alumni. These efforts will
expand the pipeline of innovation and entrepreneurial talent at VCU
and strengthen RVA’s innovation ecosystem.
VCU Venture
Creation University
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VCU Innovation Gateway Team
From Left to Right:
SEATED
JUSTIN KAUSZLER
SUSAN PATOW
CLARA SINE
STANDING
MAGDALENA MORGAN
AFSAR MIR
REBECCA CAFFREY
BRIAN A. SMITH
DIEGO ALVAREZ
IVELINA METCHEVA
LINDSAY CLAYTON
NICOLE COLOMB
TRISHA MASSENZO
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VCU Commercialization Advisory Panel
David R Beauregard Managing Director
Monument Square Advisors, LLC
Geoffrey D. Beecher Senior Sales Specialist
Carticept Medical
L. Franklin Bost Executive Associate Dean VCU School of Engineering
Reinhold Brand President Evonik Goldschmidt Corporation
Consumer Specialties
Brian Carney Principal Harbert Venture Partners
William H. Daughtrey Entrepreneur-in-Residence Dominion Resources
Innovation Center
Alex Euler Investment Director CIT Gap Fund
James Fort Associate Director
Pain Management
Product Development Pfizer Consumer Health
T. Justin Moore, III
Partner
Hunton and Williams
Jeffrey M. Gallagher CEO
Virginia Bio
Todd Nuckols VP of Business Development EnterBridge Technologies
Managing Director
Lighthouse Labs
Mike Grisham President and CEO Virginia Biosciences Health
Research Corporation
Neil Patel Senior Vice President
Content Strategy & Development The Martin Agency
Graham Henshaw New Richmond Ventures
Carrie Roth President and CEO
Virginia BioTechnology
Research Park
Michael Innes Managing Director Cary Street Partners
Eric Martin
Founding Partner
80amps
Mike McGinley Managing Partner New Dominion Angels
Dennis Schafer Life Science Management
Mike Whitham Patent Attorney
Whitham, Curtis, Christofferson
& Cook
Paul France MeadWestvaco
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Permit Number 869
Richmond, Virginia
800 East Leigh Street, Suite 3000
P.O. Box 980568
Richmond, VA 23298-0568
www.research.vcu.edu/ott
(804) 828-5188